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In today’s fast-paced e-commerce environment, offering flexible payment options is key to increasing sales and customer satisfaction. Afterpay has emerged as one of the most popular “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) services, allowing customers to split their payments into four equal installments.
For businesses using Stripe, adding Afterpay as a payment method is a straightforward process. In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps to enable Afterpay on your Stripe account, ensuring a smooth and seamless checkout experience for your customers.
What You Need to Know About Afterpay and Stripe
Before diving into the setup process, it’s important to understand the basics of Afterpay and how it works with Stripe. Afterpay allows customers to purchase products upfront and pay over time, without incurring any interest or fees if paid on time.
By integrating Afterpay into your payment options, you can attract more customers who prefer flexible payment plans.
Stripe is a popular payment gateway that facilitates online payments for businesses of all sizes. It supports a wide variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and BNPL options like Afterpay.
Stripe makes it easy to add Afterpay to your store, and the integration process is simple. No additional onboarding or activation steps are required for eligible businesses.
How to Add Afterpay to Stripe: Step-by-Step Instructions
Now, let’s walk through how to add Afterpay to your Stripe account. This process is simple and involves only a few clicks. Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Log in to Your Stripe Dashboard
To get started, log in to your Stripe account by visiting the Stripe website and entering your credentials. This will take you to your Stripe Dashboard, where you can manage all your payment settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Payment Methods
Once logged into your Stripe Dashboard, the next step is to access the “Payment Methods” section. To do this:
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Settings.
- Under Settings, you will find an option labeled Payment methods. Click on it to proceed.
This section allows you to manage all the payment options available to your customers, including credit cards, wallets, and BNPL services like Afterpay.
Step 3: Locate the Buy Now, Pay Later Section
Scroll down the Payment Methods page until you see the section labeled Buy now, pay later. This section includes options for various BNPL services, including Afterpay.
Step 4: Enable Afterpay/Clearpay
Once you’ve located the Buy now, pay later section, you’ll see an option for Afterpay/Clearpay. Simply toggle the button next to Afterpay to enable it as a payment method on your site.
It’s important to note that if you’re using Stripe’s front-end products like Checkout or Elements, Afterpay will automatically appear as an option for eligible customers. Stripe automatically determines which payment methods to display based on the customer’s location and eligibility.
Step 5: Verify Your Eligibility
Before you enable Afterpay, make sure your business meets the eligibility requirements. Not all businesses are eligible to offer Afterpay as a payment method. Stripe and Afterpay provide detailed documentation to help you understand the eligibility criteria.
To verify eligibility, you can visit the Afterpay website or consult Stripe’s documentation. If your business meets the criteria, you can proceed with enabling Afterpay.
Important Considerations When Adding Afterpay to Stripe
While the process of adding Afterpay to Stripe is simple, there are a few important factors to keep in mind to ensure everything runs smoothly.
No Individual Integration Required
If you’re using Stripe’s front-end products such as Checkout or Elements, there’s no need for individual integration of Afterpay. Stripe automatically handles the display of Afterpay and other relevant payment methods for you.
Eligibility Criteria
Before enabling Afterpay, it’s essential to ensure your business qualifies to offer it. The eligibility criteria vary based on factors such as your location and the types of products you sell. Be sure to check the requirements before enabling Afterpay.
Setting Up the Checkout Session
When you create a new Checkout Session, it’s important to add afterpay_clearpay to the payment_method_types list. This will allow Afterpay to be displayed as a payment option during checkout.
If you’re unfamiliar with Checkout Sessions, they are used to manage the payment process for your customers. By adding Afterpay to the list of accepted payment methods, you ensure that customers who wish to use Afterpay have the option to do so.
Collecting Shipping Information
When using Afterpay, it’s recommended to collect the customer’s shipping address to prevent potential issues. Add your country to the shipping_address_collection[allowed_countries] list to ensure you collect the necessary shipping information.
Using the Right Currency
It’s essential that all line items in your store are priced in your domestic currency. Afterpay payments are only supported in specific currencies, so make sure that your pricing is set up correctly.
Adding Afterpay to Payment Links
If you’re using Stripe’s Payment Links to process transactions, you can easily add Afterpay as an available payment option. When creating a Payment Link, simply enable Afterpay as one of the payment methods, allowing your customers to choose it during checkout.
Invoice Payment Plans
If you’re using Stripe’s invoicing feature, you can also include Afterpay as part of the payment plan for invoices. This gives your customers more flexibility when paying for larger purchases, making it easier to accept payments over time.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Although the process of adding Afterpay to Stripe is relatively simple, you may encounter a few issues along the way. Here are some common problems and how to resolve them:
1. Afterpay Isn’t Displaying During Checkout
If Afterpay isn’t appearing as a payment option during checkout, ensure that you’ve added afterpay_clearpay to the payment_method_types list in your Checkout Session configuration. Additionally, verify that your business is eligible to accept Afterpay and that your currency settings are correct.
2. Shipping Information Not Collected
If you’re not collecting shipping information, Afterpay may not be available as a payment method. Ensure that you have added your country to the shipping_address_collection[allowed_countries] setting to collect this data.
3. Payment Method Is Not Supported
Make sure that Afterpay is supported in your country and that your customers are eligible to use it. Stripe and Afterpay have specific country and business requirements that must be met.
4. Currency Issues
Ensure that all your products are listed in your domestic currency. If you’re selling in multiple currencies, Afterpay might not be available in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the related questions people also ask:
How do I enable Afterpay on Stripe?
To enable Afterpay on Stripe, log in to your Stripe Dashboard, navigate to Settings, then Payment Methods. Scroll down to the Buy Now, Pay Later section, and toggle the button for Afterpay/Clearpay to enable it as a payment option.
Do I need to integrate Afterpay manually into Stripe?
No, Afterpay is automatically integrated into Stripe if you’re using Stripe’s front-end products like Checkout or Elements. Stripe will display Afterpay as a payment option for eligible customers without any additional integration steps.
What do I need to check before enabling Afterpay on Stripe?
Before enabling Afterpay, make sure your business is eligible to accept it. Check the eligibility criteria on Stripe and Afterpay’s websites. Also, ensure that you collect shipping addresses and use your domestic currency for pricing.
Can I use Afterpay with Stripe’s Payment Links?
Yes, you can use Afterpay with Stripe’s Payment Links. During the creation process, simply enable Afterpay as one of the available payment options.
How do I add Afterpay to my Stripe Checkout session?
When creating a Checkout Session, add afterpay_clearpay to the payment_method_types list. This will make Afterpay available as a payment option during the checkout process.
What happens if Afterpay doesn’t appear during checkout?
If Afterpay isn’t showing up during checkout, ensure that you’ve added afterpay_clearpay to the payment_method_types in your Checkout Session. Also, verify that your business is eligible to accept Afterpay and your currency settings are correct.
Do I need to collect shipping addresses for Afterpay?
Yes, it is recommended to collect shipping addresses when using Afterpay. Add your country to the shipping_address_collection[allowed_countries] setting in Stripe to ensure that shipping information is collected properly.
Is Afterpay available in all countries through Stripe?
Afterpay is only available in select countries. Be sure to check Stripe’s documentation and the Afterpay website for a list of supported countries to confirm if your location is eligible to offer Afterpay.
Can Afterpay be used for invoice payments through Stripe?
Yes, Afterpay can be used for invoice payments through Stripe. You can include Afterpay as an option when setting up payment plans for invoices, providing your customers with the flexibility to pay in installments.
The Bottom Line
Incorporating Afterpay as a payment method within Stripe is a great way to offer more flexibility to your customers and potentially increase your sales. By following the simple steps outlined above, you can enable Afterpay quickly and without hassle.
Remember, no additional integration is required if you’re using Stripe’s Checkout or Elements, and Afterpay will automatically appear as an option for eligible businesses. Be sure to check the eligibility requirements and ensure your settings are configured properly to take full advantage of this payment method.
By offering Afterpay, you’re not only giving your customers a convenient way to pay, but you’re also enhancing their overall shopping experience. As more consumers embrace BNPL services like Afterpay, integrating it into your payment options can help you stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of your customer base.
Now that you know how to add Afterpay to Stripe, you can start offering this popular payment method and improve your checkout process.